An investigation has been opened into the death of a New York man who was fatally shot after an encounter with Oswego County sheriff's deputies and state police last week.
The sheriff’s office said it was called to a home in Constantia, about 36 miles from Syracuse, around noon Friday after someone reported a male having an apparent "psychotic episode."
Deputies were also there to serve Miles Dignean an order of protection, state Attorney General Letitia James' office said in a news release.
The situation escalated when Dignean was told that his 3-year-old child was being taken and that a family member was on the way to pick up the child, the sheriff's office alleged in a news release.
After a state trooper had removed the child, Dignean became "combative" and struck the trooper in the head with an 8-pound metal object, the sheriff's office alleged.
Deputy Corey Whitney, an 11-year veteran, used his Taser, but it was ineffective, authorities said. He then fired twice, striking Dignean, they said.
Whitney and two other law enforcement officers on the scene rendered aid to Dignean, and he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The state trooper was also taken to the hospital and treated for a head injury, the sheriff's office said.
Dignean's parents could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.
The sheriff's office said that in the 24 hours before the shooting, deputies had been called to the home multiple times. It's not clear what the nature of the calls was.
The two sheriff’s deputies have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.